Month: February 2016

How to establish a morning Gym routine – check out the tips and tricks in this Infographic

There are many benefits to exercising first thing it the morning; you feel more energised for the rest of the day, it kick-starts your metabolism, you get more out of your day plus many more benefits.

I used to workout only in the evening. I thought I didn’t have time to incorporate it anywhere else in the day. More often than not I found that my workouts in the evenings tended to be more rushed and I had to deal with everyone else that simply didn’t have the time to workout in the morning. I felt I didn’t have the focus especially if others were queuing for the same piece of equipment; not a great experience. That’s if I made it to the Gym, if I didn’t then I’d have the guilt of not going which for me made it hard to go back if I missed a few sessions.

It wasn’t until I had a couple of busy weeks where it was impossible to get to the gym in the evenings that I gave switching to a morning workout a go. It was hard getting up those first few mornings but once I got into the swing of things I began to enjoy it. I felt I could focus more, there were no queues for certain equipment, I had no guilt trip about not making it in the evenings but most of all I got a huge sense of achievement for having worked out first thing; it give me more motivation to find the time to exercise in the morning.

I’ve put together this Infographic for those who are thinking of switching to early morning gym visits and perhaps feel there are too many barriers in their way to doing this. These are the tricks I used to get me out of bed, into my gym gear and out if the door! It won’t happen overnight but once it becomes part of your routine you’ll wonder why you never worked out in the morning before.

Good luck!

Gym Etiquette Do’s and Don’ts

In addition to my recent post about Gym Etiquette, I’ve put together this useful Infographic. I warn you this is my first attempt at designing an Infographic so it’s probably far from perfect! However, I’ve enjoyed the whole creative process involved and hope it proves informative.

These Gym Etiquette Do’s and Don’ts have been put together to help the newbie Gym member to not make the mistake of falling foul of the unwritten rules that no one tells you when you sign-up. Avoid being labelled as ‘the one’ who, for example, doesn’t wipe down equipment once finished with or rocks up late for a class! Most of the time it’s really just about being polite and considerate to the others around you but there are some rules you may not be aware of. Read this Infographic to make sure you are aware of all the unwritten rules!

Are there are unwritten rules at your gym that you have fallen foul of?

Gym Etiquette – 10 Do’s and Don’ts for the Newbie

The Gym is a public place; it can get busy and crowded. Like any public space we tend generally tend to all get along nicely if we follow the unwritten, unspoken etiquette of being thoughtful and considerate of others around us. However, no matter how thoughtful of others you are when it comes to the Gym you can fall foul of the hidden rules and I inadvertently end up annoying fellow members. So to avoid getting shouted at, yes I’ve seen it happen, or perhaps unknowingly get a reputation for being someone that doesn’t follow the rules I’ve put a list together of Gym Etiquette do’s and don’ts.

Do put weights back.It’s frustrating when you are hunting around for the 10kg dumbbells or can’t find the 10kg plates you need. If you think that then others will so always put equipment back in the right place when you finish with it; plus there’s always the risk of others falling over it! If you can lift it you can put it back!

Don’t hog equipment. I’m always very mindful about how busy the gym is before I start my program. For example, if I’m working on my legs and know I need to complete a lot of sets OR I need to superset in order to burn fat I know I will be spending a lot of time on ‘high’ demand equipment so I’ll either chose a time when it’s quieter or I’ll take turn with other users. That goes for hoarding dumbbells that you are not using! Sorry that’s a real pet hate of mine!

Do wipe down the equipment after you’ve used it! Nobody likes lying in someone else’s sweaty patches so bring a towel and wipe down the equipment once you are done with it! You can buy gym towels that are slightly smaller and lighter than a hand towel, keep one in your gym bag but remember to take it out and wash it once in a while! Gyms can be unhygienic places don’t add to it!

Don’t space invade! Nothing more frustrating when you are in the middle of a set and some walks across your path, hovers virtually on top of you when you are attempting a Deadlift or jumps on the treadmill right next to you when there are sever al others free. Be mindful of others and respect other people’s personal space, hopefully they will do the same for you!

Do switch your mobile off or better still leave it in your locker. Unless you need the to use the timer take advantage of being phone free while you workout. Not only this but no one else wants to hear your phone going off or your phone conversations.

Don’t overlook the deodorant! Pay attention to your own personal hygiene. Sounds daft? Firstly, apply deodorant before and after your workout nobody likes to catch a quiff of someone’s stale body odour. Wear fresh gym clothing. It’s great to work up a sweat but chucking your sweaty clothes back in your gym bag until your next gym visit it a no no! Invest in more than one set of gym clothes so you will always have a clean set ready for your next visit. Do I need to say more on this point?

Don’t arrive late for your fitness class and don’t talk all the way through it. It’s impolite to your instructor and distracting for others. Arrive on time and you’ll get a good spot and concentrate on our instructor and you’ll get more out of the class.

Do use the Gym locker to store your bag, hoodie or jacket. No one wants to trip over your bag or jacket. If there’s no locker available leave them in your car. Just bring in with you the essentials; water, keys, phone and workout program, if you have one.

Don’t stare. Concentrate on what your workout and focus what you need to do. Staring at other people is off putting and downright creepy!

Do ask for advice or help.Unsure how to use a piece of equipment? ASK! Ideally get a member of staff to show you how to use it or you can ask a fellow gym member but be conscious they may not use it correctly themselves! Failing that look it up on YouTube! You’ll have a better time when you are training if you know how to use the machines correctly.

Of course there are more I could mention when it comes to Gym Etiquette but maybe I’ll save those for another post. Adhering to the above will give you and other members a better workout experience. Getting shouted out by a fellow gym user for hogging weights or leaving sweaty patches on a bench can knock your confidence; it may even put you off going back!

So what Gym Etiquette do’s and don’ts did you discover when you first joined a Gym? I’d love to hear from you!

About Me

Hi I'm Helen.
Welcome to my blog.
Busy working Mum of 3. Healthy mind, healthy body, healthy diet.
My mission is to inspire others to overcome the barriers that stop them from getting fit and leading a healthy acting lifestyle.